[[De-Extinction]] - App

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OOC:

Player name: Aya
Age: XXXIV
Personal journal: disposableninja
Other contact info: trilobite_punch / AIM: Anryuu Nata


IC:

Character name: Sora
Canon: No Game No Life
Age: 18
Gender: Male

Abilities & skills:
Let's face it, he's utterly worthless in social situations if he's alone, but if his little sister's at his side, then he's good at bluffing, and an unfaltering confidence if he believes he's got the upper-hand of a situation. Being a self-proclaimed homebody, any skills and knowledge he has have been obtained through books he's read, things he's watched on TV or gleaned off of the internet (which would be during late night hours so as not to tie up the telephone lines), or played on various video game systems and computer. He has a sharp mind, and while not as logical as his sister, he has a good grasp of tactics and problem solving. He's especially good at analyzing people through observation, well enough that he can anticipate what they might do. Given that most of his interests have been in games and electronics, he's picked up a lot of things when it comes to how things are wired together or what components go where. Taking apart machinery just to see how it all works inside isn't something unusual for him either. He's become pretty decent at picking apart computer programs and knows some programming in general, although he'd claim that his sister is the better of the two of them when it comes to hacking. When it comes to games, he's better at strategy, romantic simulations and RPGs, but he's pretty good at general games like board games or cards. He's also and adept cheater, and as they say, it takes one to know one- so he can spot when someone else cheats. If he needs to research, then he's very devoted to it, although Shiro probably has the better focus of the two. That's not to say that Sora can't concentrate or retain information- he's like a sponge. He's the type of guy that reads study guides and related books for quiz games. He may not be able to learn languages in fifteen minutes like his sister, but Shiro hints that he's just too laid back about some things.


Personality:
Cool and confident, bold and brash. These things...aren't generally what one would describe Sora as. He's generally an introvert who's traded in his social life for a controlled indoor life of video games and the internet. Obviously, he's never had a girlfriend so that's led him to wonder what he's missing out on, and his only experience on that level are whatever dating games he's played. In that, he's become a little perverted, but what else does one expect from a shut in? Admittedly he's a bit of your typical fanboy, immersed in the latest of pop culture, and with the rise of the internet, it hasn't helped but offer more information at his fingertips. One might say he's a little jaded with life, preferring the company and thrill of video games and the computer. When he was younger, he'd become disappointed with humans, frustrated with their seemingly pointless and repetitive toil. While to a degree he still believes that the general expectations of society aren't the most fantastic, he has a better outlook towards it and the world because of his sister, who although so much younger than him, understood so much of his perspective.

The only person he's the most comfortable with is his little sister Shiro, and although the age gap between them is seven years, their trust in each other is unwavering, and their teamwork, solid. If Shiro is at his side, Sora can tackle anything so long as he has his sister's support, and likewise, he stands by his sister without question. He's confident, cool and collected- completely passable as a normal, functioning human being. Despite the difference of age, they understand each other, and even though it's questionable as to whether he's the best role model for her, Sora is still very much the older brother when it comes to Shiro's well-being, being quite protective of her. They've become so attached to each other that they experience a sort of separation anxiety if the other isn't in the same room as them. When Sora is apart from his sister, he's completely shattered and becomes an blathering, insecure mess. All his bravado goes completely out the window.

Both he and Shiro have a love of games, and like to consider themselves as a single unit when they play, whether competition be against other players or a computer. Sora knows his strengths, and acknowledges his sister's. He knows where Shiro excels, and he's got such complete and absolute trust in her. If she hits a rough spot, then he simply picks up where she's left off, especially if he realizes that the tactics necessary to win are more up his alley than her's. Still, he'll always rely on his sister to keep him grounded. So far as he's concerned, they're equals.

When it comes to other people, it really depends on the situation and how much attention he has to deal with. If it's a matter of one person or even just a few, Sora can slip into the shoes of someone who's been around and pass himself off as a functional member of society. He'll value information and usefulness above all else, but then that may also just be because of how disconnected he's become with people in general. He figures that everyone has their own goals and objectives, and interaction with others is just a means to get something they need. The world is a place where the strong take advantage of the weak, and strength of humans is merely an illusion, where humans themselves do not change in their weakness, but merely use this weakness as a means to survive. This doesn't mean that he belittles others, and if one can get past his sometimes blunt demeanor, then he wouldn't be a bad friend or ally to have, either. This confident exterior he creates when he's around others is a fragile one, however. He knows in reality he's an utter failure when it comes to being a fulfilled person, and it just takes the slightest misstep for him to fall apart. At least if Shiro is with him, he might be able to salvage the pieces, but when someone completely crumbles into a sobbing, apologetic mess, it's difficult to erase that image from one's mind.


AU history:
As a child, Sora had found himself disappointed with his impression of human beings. They were weak and stupid, operating under rules of a game that had no specific set to follow, much less a real goal. He played along as he figured he was expected to, doing and saying things that he figured his parents wanted to see and hear, keeping up a facade in reality, there was just no substance to him. It all changed when the boy, ten years old at the time, was brought along to an orphanage where he'd meet the sister he didn't know he had. She was only three, but she had a brilliant mind, and her first words to him- and to anyone in the longest time, were that he was empty- a pun off his name and another meaning of "Sora." An empty sky. It was like a magical phrase, and as simple as it was, it revealed so much to him. Suddenly the world had color and potential. Suddenly, this game could be fun.

While Sora is probably not the best choice of a role model for...well, anyone, really, he and Shiro have since then become quite close- inseparable, in fact. The two have basically closed themselves off from being around people, preferring the comfort of four walls around them and various video game consoles at their disposal and a computer their window to the outside world. Two sharp minds kept honed by games of all sorts, and although the internet access was limited to nights where phone calls weren't expected and less traffic in general made things easier to surf, it didn't stop them from getting their fill of news and information, and on the rudimentary game sites such as online chess, it wasn't surprising to find their moniker of [    ] topping the high score listings. It might not have been the most exciting or fulfilling life, but since the only challenges and excitement they found were through such means, they didn't particularly care, feeling they would otherwise be at a dead-end. Sora finished high school and with no direction or motivation, didn't bother going for any college. Shiro followed suit despite not even being very far into grade school, not that her studies really gave her much of a challenge.

Their parents didn't approve at first, but neither did they push very hard. They knew their kids were smart, but how did you get them to do anything when they didn't find anything else they liked except for games? If they ventured outside, it was only because they were made to by their parents, having to pick up groceries or supplies. They never spent any longer than necessary, and almost immediately skittered back into their dark little back room once they returned home. Despite living in Japan for all their life, Sora has absolutely no confidence about braving its cities for very long, and sadly his sister has followed suit.

Thus, when their father received an invitation for two to go on an all-expense paid vacation to Costa Rica, he decided to pass it on to Sora and Shiro. Some sunshine and fresh air ought to do them good, right?


Third or first person sample:
     Three video game consoles, two handhelds, a brick of a cellphone and a CASIO QV-10 digital camera. If he could have, Sora would have packed up the desktop PC, but by then his parents were already shoving him and Shiro into the car to begin the first leg of their dreaded journey. He did not look forward to flying, he'd never been outside of Japan ever, and the closest he ever cared to be flying was with a joystick in front of him as he evaded enemy fire while launching torpedos at whatever came within his radar on the screen.

     Now they were sitting on a plane, and even before it had taken off, his fingers had wound around Shiro's, his body tense as he practically pressed himself into the seat. Why, why, why, WHY would they do something like this???? he wanted to scream, but then he'd just draw unwanted attention from passengers. How could people travel like this on a regular basis? He had stolen a look out the window beside him. That had been a mistake. To think that they had to endure seventeen hours of this only made it worse. "...and that's just one way," he muttered dismally, sinking further into the seat, or at least he would have if it weren't so firm.

     Sighing, Sora idly worked out approximately how long they would have by way of battery life when divided amongst all the devices they brought. He'd been sure to stuff a good several packs of batteries, both regular and rechargeable into their luggage. Those of course were in the check-in luggage, so if he killed the batteries of his Gameboy not half-way through the trip, they'd be screwed for the rest of it. Well, if all else failed, he could dig out the graphing calculator for the games they'd loaded on there. He was convinced that the old-fashioned pad of puzzles for pen and pencil that his parents handed him off before they boarded was some sadistic maneuver, but at least it might keep them busy for half an hour, maybe less.

     Ever so slowly, the young man peeled himself from his chair to reach for the bag in front of him with his free hand, easing out the familiar rectangular shape of a handheld console. He looked at his sister, holding up the Gameboy with a wry smile.

     "...so how about a game, Shiro?"


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